Empress Of The Lost Kingdom

"Guan Tae Yang," 

Li Juan read out the three letters written on the lower side of the painting in incredulous disbelief as she stood staring at the portrait of Bai Yu Yue. 

While her mind plummeted into the depth of uncertainty, Guan Tian Long's placid voice fell on her ears,

"You know him," He tried to remind her about the ultimate factor that connects the Yu clan and the Guan family. 

"He is the reason why the males in the Guan bloodline are allowed to be the suitors of the women born in the Bai family," 

As she heard him elaborating, Li Juan mechanically turned to face Guan Tian Long who stood beside her with a smile,

"He is the one whom you found with your queen when you visited the Tu valley. The DNA samples that you have collected and wished to cross-check with grandpa Guan's, it belongs to him" Guan Tian Long bombarded a startled Li Juan with more and more information without giving her a break. 

"But...but Gege, our Queen...she wasn't married at the time of war. She was not even engaged with anyone, then how can they entitle her as the Empress?" Li Juan struggled to find the right word to express her doubts. Usually, the Empress title was only bestowed to the spouse of the emperor and as far as she knew, Bai Yu Yue was a young maiden who was forced to lead a war.

"Ask that question to yourself," Guan Tian Long pointed out as his countenance brightened with an unknown pride,

"Other than the Guan family, no one is allowed to get inside the boundaries of this palace walls. Yet, you are here... in the sacred pavilion, a place that once inaccessible to the family members," 

Unable to believe his words, Li Juan gawped like a goldfish. 

"The moment you decided to accept a man born in the royal bloodline of Guan empire, you have become our family, you have become the phoenix who compliments the Dragon," Guan Tian Long explained,

"They were in love," Li Juan mumbled as she recalled the stories of Guan Empire's benevolence towards the Yu clan was rooted in a marriage alliance proposed to the latter. 

"Instead of a royal entourage full of precious betrothal gifts, Emperor rushed with his iron blood army to Yu kingdom to help the woman he loved," 

Guan Tian Long looked at Li Juan with a faint smile,

"She may be your queen, but for us, she is the spouse of dragon emperor, our phoenix," 

Even without her knowing, Li Juan slowly bowed before the portrait with teary eyes.

When she left Xi city, her mind was filled with the fate that tied her with Tang Wei Sheng. Though she doesn't want to ponder more on the ill-fated relationship with the Wolf God and forgotten Lunar Goddess, she was a bit anxious about the turn of events that happened in her life.

"Do you want to see Tae Yang's paintings?" Guan Tian Long's enthusiastic voice broke Li Juan's chain of thoughts as he led her to the other of the pavilion. 

Unlike the others, paintings displayed in this section was more like a depiction of the growth of an artist from a child to an adult.

Li Juan who was already mind blown by the paintings drawn by the emperor almost stopped working when she saw her boyfriend's praiseworthy artworks. 

"Can you believe this is drawn by a ten-year-old?" Guan Tian Long pointed at a painting depicting a war field hanging on the wall.

"Even imagining such a scenario in mind and recreating on canvas, that's what you call a prodigy," 

Li Juan couldn't but help but agree with him. 

Every artwork hung on the walls was incomparable as if one is better than the other. 

"Do you know why Tae Yang chose a career in the medical field?" Guan Tian Long asked Li Juan,

"Hmm, he said it was because of a nightmare," She replied without averting her amused eyes from the paintings.

"Yes," Guan Tian Long smiled as he agreed with her, "I think it was during the vacation after high school, he saw a nightmare and fell sick," 

"He fell sick?" Li Juan's eyes perched in dubiety as she listened to him, "Because of the nightmare?" She uttered in a low voice and stared at him.

"Of course, he was down with heavy fever and we even had to admit him in the hospital. I bet he left out that part," Guan Tian Long chuckled before continuing,

"He literally hallucinated under the effect of fever and used to cry all night over failing to save someone in his dream. Once he left the hospital, he made the declaration of becoming a doctor. Though we were unhappy with his decision, now I'm glad that he became a doctor and met you,"

He paused and moved to the next painting of a woman, standing alone in a gory battlefield with a bleeding heart, 

Though her face wasn't visible, it was detailed enough to make Li Juan recognise the scenario portrayed in the painting, 

It was the same nightmare that changed her life,

"She is the person he failed to save in his nightmares," Guan Tian Long casually said to the woman who remained bewildered by the sight before her eyes,

"Gege.. this is..when did he paint this? Li Juan asked in an agitated voice as she struggled to tame the surging emotions inside her head.

"Senior high, when he was around 18 years," 

"18 years?" Li Juan was rendered speechless by his answer repeated inwardly as her big black eyes remained widened in amusement.

The similarities within their lives were too many, as if someone has predetermined their fate. 

---------------------------

When Lee Tae Yang returned to the Dai Jinlong palace, the night has already grown darker. The simple errand that was given to him has turned out to be a surprise visit to Yu palace along with his grandfather and uncles, therefore an official marriage proposal for the queen,

However there weren't any joy on Lee Tae Yang's face since he was bit anxious to meet Li Juan after their last conversation.

"Where is she, chief Hu? Guan Lin Zheng asked the head butler when he noticed the empty living room, "We should let her know about our visit to Yu palace,"

"Miss Bai went to bed, master. She and second young master were supervising the arrangements for tomorrow's prayer ceremony all evening," Hu Hanmin informed, 

"Uncle, can we talk to her tomorrow?" Feng Mian suggested all of sudden and glanced at his nephew who stood beside her,

"It's already late, I'm sure that Li Juan must be asleep by now,"

"Is that so?" Guan Lin Zheng turned his eyes at his grandson who appeared restless, "Oh then, let's talk tomorrow,"

As soon as Lee Tae Yang heard his grandfather's words, his face brightened a little on a relief that he got some time to discuss it with Li Juan. 

"Good night, then," He rumbled and rushed towards the inner court, leaving the elders with their discussions,

When Lee Tae Yang reached his room, his eyes fell on the woman who remained wide awake, among a huge pile of books, 

He leaned on the door frame took a good look at Li Juan, 

"I thought you must be sleeping by now," 

Lee Tae Yang's deep voice woke Li Juan from her books and immediately the corners of her lips turned upwards into a welcoming smile. 

Closing the book, Li Juan uttered in a calm tone. "You asked me to wait until you return," 

"I'm sorry I kept you waiting," Lee Tae Yang apologized as he approached the bed in long strides, "It took more time than I expected," 

"You must be tired. Get changed and go to sleep," She instructed the man who appeared tired. Li Juan felt that it was unnecessary to bug him with her questions since he had a tough day because of her sudden arrival,

Without any hesitations, Lee Tae Yang obeyed her, however, instead of changing his clothes and go to sleep, he went to the bathroom for a quick shower. 

Though he has cleared the misunderstandings between them, Lee Tae Yang was a bit worried about proceeding with the marriage talks without discussing it with Li Juan.

What if she wants more time to cope up with their loss or may be some time to finish her research?

When Lee Tae Yang returned after showering, Li Juan has cleared the pile of the books on the bed and moved to the couch,

"Are you going to read all night?" Lee Tae Yang asked when he saw that Li Juan was immersed in the books.

"I'm not sleepy yet," She replied without averting her eyes from the book, "You can turn off the lights and sleep if you want, I will use the bedside lamp,"

"Hmmm," He agreed and sat on the edge of the bed when he detected her cold distant tone, "I'm not sleepy either," 

Lee Tae Yang leaned on the headrest and stared into nothingness as his mind started to get riled up. 

He wants to discuss about their marriage and on the other hand, Li Juan wasn't even paying attention to him. 

After a long moment of silence, Li Juan closed the book and tilted her head to take a look at the sulky soul sitting on the bed,

"I told you to go to sleep," She reminded him in a chiding tone, once again,

After a long moment of silence, Lee Tae Yang opened his mouth to ask the question that boiling in his mind,

"Xiao Li, are you still angry with me?" 

Hearing his question, Li Juan stood up from the couch as if she is ready to spill the words fogging inside her, "I'm not angry, I am disappointed at the fact that I know nothing about you," 

"I...I've told you everything," Lee Tae Yang replied in a voice laced with confusion,

"No...you didn't," Li Juan slowly ambled towards the bed, "You hid something important from me," 

As Lee Tae Yang listened to her accusations, he had no other option but to remain silent since he failed to recognize what did he missed to confess. 

Looking at his blank face, Li Juan suppressed the tiny smile that bloomed on her lips and stated indifferently,

"You never told me that you are a painter," 

"Huh?" He gawped at her, like an idiot.

"Why did you hid the fact that you like to paint?" She gently folded her arms over the chest and interrogated, "Can you imagine how bad I must have felt when I came to know about your likes and dislikes from someone else, that too after living with you for these many days?" 

Lee Tae Yang sighed in relief and looked at the woman who stood beside the bed, with pouted lips. He reached out for her arm and pulled Li Juan onto the bed, with a flashy grin on his face. 

Like an obedient child, Li Juan sat next to him and snuggled into his arms,

"Painting was something that I liked to do when I was young and had enough free time," He explained in a soft voice while wrapping her slender body into an embrace.

"Oh Good Lord," Li Juan facepalmed at his words and remained silent for a minute. She moved away from his embrace and cupped his face with her palms,

"I understood that you are busy with your work and other responsibilities, but Yangyang, you should find some time for yourself too," She advised him in a doting tone.

"Every individual need some "me-time," to do whatever they love,"

"Hmm, I will try to find some time from now on," Lee Tae Yang covered her palms with his and promised her.

"You should," She released her palms with a smile and leaned on his chest, tangling her fingers with his,

"So how was your day? Did you had a nice time exploring the palace?" He cooed near her ears and tightened his arms that wrapped around her.

"Hmmm. Tian Gege took me on a palace tour and even gave me a lecture on the history of the Guan dynasty along with an unbelievable story of reincarnations," Li Juan paused for a moment and let out a chuckle,

"Everyone here thinks that we are the reincarnations of our ancestors and whatever relationship we have right now is meant to happen, like soulmates. How is that even possible?" Li Juan wrecked her brain in the thought of reincarnations.

"If we believe in the story of re-incarnations then what about our feelings in this life? Is that even real?"

"Love is a matter of fate coupled with choice, Xiao Li. We meet a lot of people throughout our lifespan and befriend many but only a few of them arouse some kind of special feelings in our hearts," Lee Tae Yang shared his opinion. Though he believed there was a thread of destiny that tied Li Juan to him, he wasn't ready to acknowledge his love for her was entirely based on it.

"Yes, I'm glad to know that our ancestors were in love and I'm even grateful that fate's play in bringing you into my life, but Xiao Li, loving you was entirely my choice," Lee Tae Yang declared in steely voice and placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

"Whether you want to believe in the reincarnation story or not, you must know that whatever feelings I have for you is real,"

"Yangyang," Li Juan tenderly called and tilted her head to gaze into his deep obsidian eyes,

Whether they were born to fulfill whatever their ancestors left behind in their lives, it was impossible for Li Juan to neglect the fact that Lee Tae Yang was the one who has been always stood beside her.

He was the one for her and that's not going to change, nah she doesn't want to change it.

Li Juan took a deep breath and opened her mouth to render the words she always wished to say,

"Let's get married,"